WILMINGTON — Students and faculty advisers from universities in India, Kenya, the Philippines and the United States converged at Wilmington College this week for the 10th annual International Undergraduate Research Symposium (IURS).
Wilmington College science students joined peers from Tarlac State University, Philippines; Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya; Visayas State University, Philippines; the Philippine Rice Research Institute; and Chicago State University in presenting their original research.
WC students include Savannah Hooper, Lauren DeLong, Alena Moore, Alex Saunders and Hana Vrtar.
Alfred R. Conklin, Ph.D., professor of chemistry and agriculture, is a founder of the symposium and serves as an international director.
The six-day event at the College comes after previous symposia have been held in Ecuador, Serbia, Philippines, Chicago and Wilmington. IURS is affiliated with the Fulbright Academy of Science and Technology.
Conklin is pleased with the Wilmington students’ work and how well they represented themselves, the College and the United States.
“The whole idea is for undergraduates from different parts of the world to come together, exchange their research and share results,” he said, adding that IURS is yet another hands-on learning opportunity available to WC students. “It’s a very synergistic interaction. Because of the types and quality of research, the students are able to form networks of scientists around the world.”
He noted that, over the years, many WC students have maintained personal and professional ties with students they met at previous symposia, and those relationships have served to advance careers.
In addition to two days of oral and posters presentations of student/faculty research, the students also heard presentations from Monsanto on American agriculture and about getting into graduate school from The Ohio State University.
Evenings provided ample opportunities for cultural exchange and socializing.
